Thank you George Washington

So I've been reminded that I haven't written at all this new year. I'm not sure what I've been doing that has kept me SO "busy".

Anyway, this is what I have to say about the Inauguration--
The most historical Inauguration ever. Really? Because I would think that that distinction just MIGHT belong to George Washington!
The most expensive Inauguration ever. Yes...I'm so glad that in these tough times when it calls for sacrifice on the part of every American, that he was the first to "sacrifice". Way to go Barack.



Is it really so surprising that a Black man was elected? I really don't think so. This implies that we as Americans haven't come very far in the last 40 years and I think it's obvious that we have. It was easier than electing a Mormon! Mormons aren't "discriminated" against, we're just weird. But I digess... If we keep making a distinction between the races and reliving the past discriminations we cannot possible move forward. I can tell you THE day that I knew he would be President. It was February 4, 2008. When Mitt Romney "suspended" his campaign I said "Practice saying President Obama".
But seriously, crying?! He hasn't even done anything yet! So let's wait and see. Unlike most Obama supporters who blame everything from the war in Iraq to Hurricane Katrina to global warming on Geroge W. Bush, I realize that no one man has that much power. President Bush did not do anything by himself and neither will President Obama. That's why it's called a democracy.
There, that's for you Jen :-)

Happy New Year 2009

Boy, do I hope 2009 is finally our year!
We used to have these amazing New Year's Eve parties with Doug's brother and sis-in-law Steve and Michelle. We would have all of this fun food (because the 4 of us love food:-) and just visit and laugh hysterically....good times!
I miss having fun with friends.
Tonight Mackenzie went to her first boy-girl party, but she's with good friends and she is just around the corner. Kian and Doug are playing golf on the Play Station and Vanessa has to work the night shift.
Another year of change and less conspicuous consumption! I guess Calah and I will watch the ball drop and then I'll go to bed.
Wow! I never thought I'd be this boring!!

Merry Christmas!

So Christmas morning wasn't the disaster I had imagined. Kian got a bike and a note from Santa. I do think he was slightly confused though. I also think his favorite gift ended up being the kid indoor golf game that Nini got him...go figure!



We didn't have our usual traditions and it still turned out to be a good day. Since 1994 we have gone out to dinner on Christmas Eve, but that wasn't possible this year so we stayed home and had Kian's favorite "Streganona"-- otherwise known as Stroganoff :-)


Calah and Mackenzie were dog-sitting at the Orcutt's and Vanessa was working at the hospital so it was just Doug and Kian and I. Weird...I guess this is how my parents felt when the kids moved out!

Vanessa gave me an amazing picture frame with a picture of my Mom and I and a picture of Reagan and I and the poem that my Mom wrote for Reagan that I had been looking for for almost a year!! The little sneak! I was so stunned I don't even think I reacted...it's beautiful and I am grateful :-)




Today we had lasagne for dinner instead of our normal turkey and ham and snacks partly becsause we weren't sure if we were even going to have "Christmas" today or try to wait until the Santa gift came, but mostly because by the time we were able to shop there were no hams or turkeys left!

So much for traditions...but we have all survived with the hope that next year will be back to "normal" for us. I miss being able to make and take treats to all of our friends and neighbors. I miss being able to over oad the stockings with silly and fun things that are completely neccesary. I miss seeing the exclamation that Santa is the best when they recieve exactly what they had hoped for!

How do you break your child's heart?

Kian has been talking about getting a Wii for Christmas since August when we visited with Uncle Matt. It was going to be his only gift due to low financial reserves. We didn't get it. It's a long story involving bad timing and a curse put on my father by a gypsy when he was in the service!
So how do I explain that to my darling 5 year old who Believes? How do I break his heart when he comes down on Christmas morning and doesn't see his
"red-rider bb gun" under the tree? This being a Mom thing is so hard...
You want to focus on the True Meaning of Christmas, but still it's about gifts. Gifts are my love language, it's how I show my love and I love finding and choosing the perfect gift. I love imagining the looks on the faces of those whom I love when they see their wonderful gift.
So I hope there are no tears tomorrow from him or me and I hope that in time he will forget about this Christmas, because it's very rare that I still think about the Christmas when all I really wanted was Baby Tender Love and she didn't come under the tree.

Seeing Santa

We went to see Santa today! Kian was so excited! It was the real guy! There was no line...a Christmas Miracle!
But Bah-humbug, no photos on your own camera without a "minimum purchase".
So we ended up with this:

I was SO bummed. I have pictures of each of the girls with Santa every year for at least 7 years. Kian has 2. However, he took it in stride, after telling Santa that he wanted a Wii for Christmas he jumped off Santa's lap and said,
"Now can we go eat?"

Sees Chocolates

We don't have See's Candies out here in the midwest (well, there was a little shop at the old airport, not sure about now).
Anyway, I think it is better chocolate than even Godiva.
When we were kids we would go to my Aunt Willie's around Christmas and she always had a big box of See's. The kids always got the Molasses Chips. I liked them, they were quite a treat. When I got older I remember thinking "Hey we got jipped! There are WAY better chocolates than Molasses Chips!" And I didn't eat a Chip for years.
This year we got two boxes from Doug's parents--one Milk chocolate and one Dark chocolate. I've decided that Molasses Chips aren't so bad after all.
Yay for See's Candies...I love that white store!

Christmas Music

Today is Christmas music day. I'm not sure why except that it is only a week away and I haven't had my music day yet. I wasn't feeling too "Christmas-y" (again) this year and I realized the other night that it was probably because I had not heard Donny Osmond sing "Mary, Did You Know?". Which is BTW the BEST version!
So here I am and it is definitely helping. I should be making cookies.
How is it that a favorite old Christmas song can take me back to my family? Back to when it seemed everything was simple and for sure. I miss my family. I mean the family of my childhood. I love my kids and my grown-up family of course, but there is nothing like being a kid at Christmas time!